FAMILY and friends in the rugby league world at large are mourning the loss of a long-serving Saints’ board member whose devotion to the club was a byword.

Born in Westfield Street, William ‘Bill’ Lyon (85) died in Mayfield nursing home following a brief illness.

His wife Joan passed away in 2005 and he is survived by his son William and daughters Katherine, Margaret and Elizabeth.

Bill also leaves eight grandchildren: James, Anne, William (who plays for Thatto Heath Crusaders), Saints’ cheerleader Charlotte, Rebecca, Katie, John and Laura.

A former pupil of St Luke’s junior and Prescot Grammar Schools, Bill was – like current chairman Eamonn McManus – a graduate of St John’s College, Cambridge University, where he played Rugby Union.

He was later a lecturer at Padgate Teacher Training College and Quarry Bank.

From a Rugby League angle he was invited to join Saints’ board following the retirement of Doctor Anthony Lomax and Harold Stott in 1976.

Bill continued to serve as a director until the age of 70 in 1994.

HIGHLIGHTS of the likeable Lyon’s lengthy stint in one of the club’s administrative ‘hot seats’ would include.

  • TRAVELLING to Paris with secretary Geoff Sutcliffe to tempt Australian mega-star Mal Mening to join Saints in 1984, when the Kangaroo’s captain was poised to sign for Leeds.
  • FOCUS on player recruitment which, among many others, saw future internationals Gary Connolly and Alan Hunte take the Knowsley Road ticket.
  • BEING appointed to the Rugby League Academy Board.
  • ACTING as ‘chauffeur’ to Harry Cook from his Eccleston Park home after Saints’ legendary chairman had given up driving.
  • BEING involved in Saints’ ‘double’ of the Lancashire Cup and Premiership Trophy in 1984-5, and the subsequent tour of New Zealand.

As well as an unswerving commitment to oval-ball affairs Bill Lyon’s other sporting passion was golf on the Grange Park course, where he was captain in 1981.

Bill and his better half were also often seen on the fairways at the Formby club.

Interest in the ‘sport of kings’ also took his fancy, but purely on television because he did not gamble on the ‘gee-gee’s.’ His funeral will be held at Our Lady’s Church, Portico, today, Thursday, August 6, at 11am, followed by cremation.

The Lyon family have not requested floral tributes and instead invite donations for a ‘Bill Lyon Youth Rugby Fund’ in order to obtain a trophy to be competed for by amateur teams in memory of a stalwart whose final Super League home match was versus Castleford last month.

A minute’s silence was held before Friday’s game against Wigan Warriors.